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Monday, September 30, 2013

Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin; Illustrated by Eric-Schabazz Larkin

Readers to Eaters. 2013

ISBN: 9780983661535

Grades 1 - 4

I borrowed this book from my local public library.

There is nothing that tastes so yummy than popping a tomato, cucumber, pepper or green bean into your mouth that has just been picked from your garden. Mmmmmm!

As more and more people strive to eat healthy as a way to combat obesity, many schools, day cares, and home gardens have sprung up. People want to eat foods grown organically, free of harmful chemicals. Throughout the United States, the local food movement is growing in popularity.

In this picture book biography, Martin writes about a remarkable man, Will Allen, who has dedicated much of his life to bringing good food to everyone, especially those who live in the cities. As a young boy growing up,

"My mother often fixed enough food for thirty,” Will says. “We never had a car or TV, but we always had good food.”"

For Will, good food equaled good times.

One day, after playing professional basketball in Belgium and then while working a white-collar job in Wisconsin Will grew vegetables on land owned by his wife's family. But Will wanted his own farm. How could someone farm in the middle of a city? Will Allen found a way. He purchased six empty greenhouses that stood on a plot of land “the size of a large supermarket.”

Now, many years later, Allen’s multi-generational, multi-cultural non-prophet organization Growing Power, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has revolutionized urban farming. In her author’s note, Martin states, “Allen has shown that urban farms can be the source of good jobs for underemployed urban residents.”

The narrative uses simple and direct language to tell Allen’s story. The illustrations are done in ink and pen, and markers to make an image or color, and then digitally matches with scanned textures and objects. They resemble primitive folk art style. Back matter includes an afterword from Allen, author’s note, and further reading.

Books written for a younger audience should still be shared with older students, especially when they are about individuals who have a vision, stand up for what they believe, and working to make the world a better place. Partner FarmerWill Allen and the Growing Table with Gaia Warriors by Nicola Davies, Potatoes on Rooftops by Hadley Dyer, and It’s Our Garden by George Ancona